‘Retribution’ nabs Canada’s Golden Reel

Third pic in 'Resident Evil' franchise is top local earner

TORONTO — “Resident Evil: Retribution” was the top Canadian pic at the domestic box office last year, earning the 2012 Golden Reel Award, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced Tuesday.

The sci-fi actioner, which just opened in China, grossed over $5.4 million in Canada, part of its estimated $250 million worldwide gross to date.

Written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, “Retribution” is the third film in the “Resident Evil” franchise to win the award.

It’s also the seventh Golden Reel winner produced by Don Carmody, whose films nabbed the second (“Goon”) and third (“Silent Hill 2: Revelations 3D“) B.O. spots in 2012.

“What the box office award means to me is that the people who actually buy tickets get to vote rather than the critics, guilds or other filmmakers,” Carmody told Variety. “I’ve always thought that’s what counted — to entertain the movie-going audience.”

“Retribution” received Canadian Screen Award nominations for visual effects, sound editing and costume design. The Golden Reel will be presented at the CSA gala on March 3.